New Security Screenings Start for Passengers on U.S. Bound Flights

New security screenings at foreign airports went into effect Thursday for all passengers on U.S.-bound flights.

The move is part of the Department of Homeland Security’s efforts to intensify the screening of travelers flying to the United States. Changes will include heightened security of some personal electronic devices including laptops and stricter security procedures near aircraft and in airports.

The new procedures, which apply to U.S. nationals as well as foreign visitors, require all airlines to ask passengers about their trip and the contents of their luggage. They cover over 2,100 flights from across the globe that arrive at U.S. airports daily.

“The security measures affect all individuals, international passengers and U.S. citizens, traveling to the United States from a last point of departure international location,” said Lisa Farbstein, a spokesman for the U.S. Transportation Security Administration.

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